PREVIEW
Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton
Presented by St. Albert Chamber Music Society
Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Albert United Church
20 Green Grove Dr.
Tickets: Seasonal $120 to $140, Single $30 to $35. Call Art Gallery of St. Albert, 780-460-4310 or Musée Heritage Museum, 780-459-1528
“If music be the food of love, play on.” – Shakespeare, 12th Night
If indeed you believe Shakespeare’s words, then St. Albert Chamber Music Society has booked a bountiful feast for its classical music lovers.
The season launches its first concert on Saturday, Sept. 15 at St. Albert United Church with the newly created 14-member Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton.
Lidia Khaner, also the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s principal oboe, is the chamber orchestra’s powerhouse founder and artistic director.
The Polish-trained musician earned a hefty musical pedigree playing with some of the world’s heavyweights: violinist/conductor Yehudi Menuhin, pianist/conductor Hans Graf, composer/conductor Krzysztof Penderecki, cellist/conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, pianist/conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy and flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal.
“I just finished a degree in conducting at the University of Alberta and I needed a place to help myself in becoming stronger,” said Khaner explaining how by creating the chamber orchestra it provides a natural segue into a professional conducting career.
In addition, in a world where big is often touted as better, Khaner is intent on presenting classical works that require fewer instruments. Not all classical masterpieces require the full-blown intensity of a 60-piece symphony.
Many magnum opuses played with the fewer instruments of a smaller chamber orchestra are capable of revealing beauty, intimacy and energy without sacrificing weight, depth and drama.
“The Edmonton Symphony doesn’t program smaller pieces for the whole orchestra. Musicians are paid for a concert whether they play or not. It is better economically to program pieces where all musicians play,” Khaner explained.
The chamber orchestra makes a striking entrance with Mozart’s Divertimento K.137, a light, informal work filled with gracious measures.
“It was written when he was only 16. It is only three movements and each movement is different. All three are really great pieces,” Khaner said.
“Mozart is good for any orchestra to play. He is so particular. Musicians have to work hard on the articulation. It’s not easy to put together.”
Mozart transitions into Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No. 3. This particular suite employs a serious and melancholy mood and calls only for strings.
“Respigi liked really old Italian tunes. He based this one on lute songs. It’s a most beautiful piece of music that will take you out of the concert hall. When you listen to this piece, it will be easy to transcend to a different place.”
The chamber orchestra’s third presentation is Joseph Suk’s Serenade, a sunny, uncomplicated string serenade of substantial dimensions.
“It is a beautiful, complex four-movement piece and each is amazing and challenging for the conductor. The musicians love it and play their hearts out. And this piece can make lush sounds.”
In addition, Khaner introduces Edmonton’s Emily Luo, 16, an oboe prodigy who has just won a tuition scholarship to the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in northwest Michigan. Luo will play Cimarosa’s Oboe Concerto in C minor, a pastiche of four keyboard sonatas.
The concert begins with a performance by clarinetist and local emerging artist Mies Vanbeek. The 12-year-old will perform three folk tunes.
